Gryvelån, Naturreservat

In Gryvelån, a mosaic of marshes and coniferous forests is being protected for the future. Pine trees over 400 years old and spruce trees 30 meters tall are evidence that the forests have been left to manage themselves for a long time. Come take a hike through these rare old-growth forests, where woodpeckers call and owls hoot.

Valuable for Wilderness Flora and Fauna

The vast majority of our forests today are planted and managed using modern methods. In these commercial forests, many forest species struggle to find food and suitable habitats and nesting sites. This includes woodpeckers, owls, fungi, and a range of other organisms dependent on old-growth forests. Gryvelån was established to provide a sanctuary for these species. In the old-growth forests, plants and animals are left undisturbed by forestry machinery and other disruptive activities.

Iron Production and Marsh Haymaking

In the past, Gryvelån was a bustling place. Local farmers harvested hay on the marshes, and firewood and timber were gathered from the forest for household needs. People also dug for bog iron ore on the marshes. The ore was used to produce iron in simple furnaces. Blast furnaces, slag heaps, and other remnants of iron production can still be found. At Flyktan, there are also well-preserved charcoal burners’ huts, hay sheds, and several other old buildings.

All photos: Maria Jons, Dalarna County Administrative Board.